Admission Scholarships

There are over 4,400 undergraduate admission scholarships that the University of Toronto, along with its faculties, campuses and colleges, awards each year.

Eligible high school students (including international candidates) are automatically considered for a variety of admission scholarships when they apply to the University. Awards and cut-offs vary by division, faculty and college.

There are also admission scholarships that require a separate application, and others that require you to complete an awards profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is grade average for scholarship consideration purposes? Which courses are used in the calculation of marks?

Scholarship grade average is based on academic factors as applicable to your background and intended area of study. For specific admission requirements refer to:

2. What if my marks go up?

Scholarships are based on your grades at the time of admission. Decisions on most University awards, including the President’s Scholars of Excellence Program (PSEP) and the U of T Scholars Program, are not reviewed based on final marks. Some awards given by faculties or campuses may be subject to different terms. Consult your offer letter and the website of your college, faculty or campus.

3. What if my marks go down?

Provided that you meet all the conditions on your offer of admission we will not withdraw the scholarship offer. Please remember that your final high school marks are an important part of your academic record for the future – keep working!

4. When are scholarship decisions made?

We award University scholarships on the basis of the student’s average at the time of admission, and the decision is sent either with the offer of admission or under separate cover. Most faculty and college scholarship offers are made at the same time.

5. I received two offers of admission (from two different Faculties/campuses), but was only identified as a U of T Scholar by one of the faculties/campuses I was admitted to. Will I be a U of T Scholar regardless of which faculty/campus I choose to attend?

No – The scholarship offer is campus/faculty/college specific. The scholarship is only valid with the specific admission offer.

6. I have been designated a U of T Scholar. Is the award renewable?

No, the University of Toronto Scholar admission award is not renewable. You will however, be considered for University of Toronto In-course Scholarships at the end of your first, second and third year of study (students are considered after completing their fifth, tenth and fifteenth credit) along with the rest of the student body. There are 100 scholarships at each level. These scholarships have a value of $1,500 and are tenable with other in-course awards.

7. I was recently designated as a President’s Scholar of Excellence. Is this scholarship offer tenable with other scholarships?

9. Can I defer my scholarship(s) to the following September?

Yes. You can defer your scholarship for one (1) year as long as you meet all the conditions of your admission and you are not continuing your education during the year in which you defer. Admitted applicants can find the deferral request form and additional information in the Apply section of our website.

10. How will I be paid?

Payment will be applied to the student’s fees account after registration in September. The scholarship funds are first applied to any fees owing. A deferment of fees may be requested if the scholarship value is at least the value of the minimum required fees payment. Information about fee deferral and fees payment is available at the Student Accounts website.

If the award amount exceeds the fees owing, then the remainder will be issued to the student. It will be deposited directly into your bank account. If you have not already done so, please set up direct deposit on ACORN. You can sign up for this option by recording your bank account details on the SWS (ACORN).

11. If I reduce my course load to part-time status, will this affect my eligibility for an award?

In most cases yes, dropping to part time study will affect your eligibility for admission scholarships. Students who withdraw from study or drop to part time may be required to repay all or part of their award. Students who wish to appeal the award condition based on unforeseen or special circumstances may do so in writing to the office or division which offered the award. The scholarship committee will review the appeal and determine if special consideration is warranted.

12. I was hoping to get a larger scholarship. Now, I don’t know if I’ll be able to afford to attend.

Please read about your financial aid options. If you plan to apply for government financial aid, you should do so as soon as possible.

13. How will an award affect my OSAP funding?

You should report any award or scholarship funding you are expecting to OSAP when you complete your application. If you find out about an award after you have applied for OSAP, upload a letter in the “Print/Upload” section of your account on the the OSAP website to update them. Your OSAP application will be updated and you will be notified of any changes in your funding Contact Financial Aid & Awards, Enrolment Services with any questions.

14. I am a Canadian citizen attending high school outside of Canada. Am I eligible for admission scholarships?

As a Canadian citizen living abroad you will be considered automatically for merit-based awards. The majority of our scholarship funding is awarded through these automatic awards. As a Canadian citizen you may be eligible for need-based financial aid through your home province (your last province of residence). If you have never lived in Canada, your financial aid home is the last province where your Canadian parent lived.

15. I have been recently admitted to the University of Toronto. My letter of admission does not include a scholarship offer. Is it possible that it will come separately? Is there a timeline?

Congratulations on being offered admission to the University of Toronto! Most scholarship offers are included with the offer of admission but in some cases award offers may be sent later. There are many factors that can affect the timing of a scholarship offer; the vast majority of offers, including central scholarships, are awarded by the end of May. That said, some divisions may decide to offer scholarships at a later date.

16. I am applying to a graduate program. Are there any scholarships available for students pursuing a graduate degree?

In Enrolment Services, we work directly with undergraduate programs. If you are looking to enrol in a graduate program, please direct your questions to the School of Graduate Studies.

17. I am an international student. How do I apply for scholarships?

All admitted students are automatically considered for admissions scholarships but they are fairly competitive because of the large volume of excellent students who apply to the University of Toronto each year. In addition, the automatic awards, which are certainly a great help, are not designed to cover the full cost of international tuition so it is best to have other funding plans as well.

The U of T Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship is U of T’s most prestigious and competitive scholarship for international students. It covers tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years. The scholarship is tenable only at U of T

FAQ

Your university fees consist of tuition, incidental and ancillary fees, and are based on several factors. In addition, you’ll want to consider other costs such as books, supplies, residence, transportation, food and other expenses.

If you are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person, there are many sources of financial aid available to help you cover the costs of your University of Toronto education – from OSAP and other government aid, to assistance provided by the University. Explore your options.

If you are an international applicant, you should find out about your home country’s financial aid programs to see if you qualify for assistance. The University of Toronto is a publically-funded institution and because of that cannot offer financial aid to international students.

The University of Toronto is a publically-funded institution and because of that cannot offer financial aid to international students. If you are an international applicant, you should find out about your home country’s financial aid programs to see if you qualify for assistance.

Submit your OSAP application, then print and sign the consents and declaration pages – and any other required supporting documentation – and either upload them through your OSAP account online, or submit by mail or in person to Enrolment Services.

Follow the instructions provided to submit your Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA) at a Designated Canada Post Office to be forwarded to the National Student Loan Service Centre (NSLSC).

If you are a returning applicant you may not need to submit any documentation.

Eligible high school students are automatically considered for a variety of admission scholarships when they apply to the University. There are also admissions scholarships that require a separate application, and others that require you to complete an awards profile.

Note, however, that the value of scholarships is rarely sufficient to cover all costs the student will incur while attending University of Toronto.